HISTORICAL BACKGROND OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ITS AFFECT ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF MURSHIDABAD DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL, INDIA
HISTÓRICO BACKGROND DE DESENVOLVIMENTO INDUSTRIAL E SUA INFLUÊNCIA NAS CONDICÕES SOCIOECONÓMICAS ON DO MURSHIDABAD DISTRITO, BENGALA OCIDENTAL, ÍNDIA
Dr. Haraprasad Bairagya Ph.D.Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India [email protected]
ABSTRACT History is studied to make perfect decision for future progress of an area. Historical background of industrial development of a region inspires the industrialists to take the proper decision for the future development. The Murshidabad District, the former capital of Bengal, had its own glory of during the opulence of Nawab but now it is suffering from sickness. A region that contributed 5% of the world’s GDP at one point, where the richest citizen Jagat Seth’s (Former King/Nawab of Bengal promissory notes were honoured without question in Britain and America). Owing to its presence in the Bengal Delta (World’s Largest Delta), the industrial set up had the strong fluvial impact on its selection of types and scale on which flood becomes one of the most important parameter. There is no mineral found in the district in sufficient amount by which a mineral based industry can be established. Thus almost all industries, other than sugar cane industry, are agro-based small scale industries of the district. Amongst these small scale industries Silk Industry, Ivory Carving, Textile industry, Metal industry, Clay model and bidi industry were important during the Nawab period. Now only silk and bidi industries are carrying its glory and other are going to be sick due to some essential factors like the frequent flood damage, destruction of Nawab Kingdom, negligence of the Govt., population pressure due to refugees etc. Now the study of the historical background is highly needed for enhancing the future industrial progress of the economically backward district like Murshidabad in present situation Key-words: Poverty, Per-capita income, refugee, trafficking.
RESUMO História é estudada para tomar a decisão perfeita para o progresso futuro de uma área. Contexto histórico do desenvolvimento industrial de uma região inspira os industriais para tomar a decisão correta para o desenvolvimento futuro. O Distrito Murshidabad, a antiga capital de Bengala, tinha a sua própria glória durante a opulência de nababo, mas agora ele está sofrendo de doença. A região, que contribuíram com 5 % do PIB do mundo em um ponto, onde o cidadão mais rico da Jagat Seth (ex- Rei / nababo de Bengala notas promissórias foram homenageados sem dúvida na Grã-Bretanha e América. Devido à sua presença no Delta Bengala (maior delta do mundo), o conjunto industrial até teve o forte impacto fluvial em sua seleção de tipos e escala em que inundação torna-se um dos parâmetros mais importantes. não há mineral encontrado no distrito
Revista Eletrônica Geoaraguaia. Barra do Garças-MT. V 4, n.2, p 1 - 25. Julho/Dezembro. 2014. 1 em quantidade suficiente por que uma indústria de base mineral pode ser estabelecida. Assim, quase todos os setores, exceto a indústria de cana de açúcar, são indústrias de pequena escala de base agrícola do distrito. Entre essas indústrias de pequena escala da indústria de seda, Ivory Carving, indústria têxtil, indústria de metal, modelo de argila e da indústria bidi foram importantes durante o período de nababo. Agora, apenas as indústrias de seda e bidi estão levando a sua glória e outros vão estar doente devido a alguns fatores essenciais, como os danos freqüentes inundações, destruição de nababo Unido, negligência do Governo, pressão da população devido aos refugiados etc. Agora o estudo do contexto histórico é altamente necessário para melhorar o futuro progresso industrial do distrito economicamente atrasado como Murshidabad na situação atual. Palavras-chave : Pobreza, renda per capita, dos refugiados, tráfico
INTRODUCTION
Industry has a strong influence on the socio-economic aspects of a developing country like India. The local environment determines the type (i.e.agro based or mineral based) of an industry and its scale of production (i.e. large scale or small scale). Murshidabad district was a region that contributed 5% of the world’s GDP at one point, where the richest citizen Jagat Seth’s(Former King/Nawab of Bengal)promissory notes were honoured without question in Britain and America (Nock, 2010) . Murshidabad District, renowned for the opulence of Nawabi rule (Plate 1) when it hosted the capital of undivided Bengal in the 18th century, is today home to the maximum number of poor people in the country, according to the first official assessment of the poverty across 604 districts of India (Datta, 2009). The Murshidabad district is basically agrarian in character. The major work-force of the district is engaged in this sector. The agricultural sector makes the greatest contribution to the district’s total income (Chintis, 2009). The district is not endowed with many natural resources. In the Secondary Sector, i.e.manufacturing, the district’s performance is far below the desired level. It has been identified as an industrially backward district. It also creates the demand of the industrial goods and influences on the choice of the local public. Murshidabad district has recently been identified as a trafficking prone district. After independence long and porous border with Bangaldesh and to Economic scenario, religious customs, low female literacy rate, affects of flood make children and young adults of the district vulnerable to trafficking and child marriage etc. The per-capita income is going to be decreased day by day. So the study of industrial history of the district can inspire the people of Murshidabad to get relief from the pain of poverty and can inculcate the knowledge of future prospects of their own in the industrial sector. Revista Eletrônica Geoaraguaia. Barra do Garças-MT. V 4, n.2, p 1 - 25. Julho/Dezembro. 2014. 2
Plate 1 : Nawab’s Palace
LOCATION OF THE STUDY AREA
The district Murshidabad centrally located in West Bengal (Fig.1) lies between the latitude of 23 043'30"N to 24 050'20"N and longitude of 87 049'17"E to 88 044'00"E. The river Ganga forms the north and eastern boundary and separates it from Bangladesh. Extending over an area of 5324 sq. km, the district has 58, 63,717 persons (30, 04,385 are males and 28, 59,332 females census 2001). The district has four Sub-divisions namely Jangipur, Baharampore, Lalbag and Kandi including 26 Blocks, 26 police stations, 1,918 inhabited villages and 18 towns. Only 10.43% population of this district is urban. Out of total area, 408.29 thousand hectares are cultivated which is relatively more than that of other districts in West Bengal (Jha&Bairagya, 2011).The district Murshidabad is less developed due to frequent occurrence of flood and also having no proper education and communicational facilities.
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Fig. 1: Location of The Study Area
Fig. 2: Base Map of the Study Area
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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
Murshidabad district, which was the mostly developed district of West Bengal during the opulence of Nawabs (The Great king of Bengal), showing totally different feature today due to its decreasing glory from the middle of eighteenth century to till today. The Nawab made the glory on the basis of industrial development of the district mainly. The main aim and objective is to study and to find out the reasons behind its decreasing glory. Good suggestions are recommended which can help to return the glory of the district. Various glorious performances of the past in the industrial sector may inspire the present people to build up such industries for their economic development (Kathpalia, 2002). The study could make the district a very good tourist destination by which the economically very poor people can earn some money to gather food and clothes for their children.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study is descriptive and qualitative by nature. To ensure the perfect location of the study area, topographical sheets are used. Tabular analysis and cartographic presentations are done on the basis of primary and secondary statistical data. Direct field observation is also one of the principal methodology of the study. A team of geographers had visited the area during the month of October, 2013. The characteristics of the district and significant phenomenon are studied and included to draw attention of the future researchers. The present industrial conditions are also studied directly from the field observations and to some extent collected from the secondary sources. Secondary data are collected from different district statistical handbooks, gazetteers, magazines and local govt. offices etc. Previous literature reviews are done on the basis of direct library work to improve the authenticity of the study. The tourist guides had helped a lot to visit the key places and its surrounding regions of the district and added information which are very significant and interesting for the researchers. Information, mainly related to ivory carving, textile industry etc. are also collected from different secondary sources as it was in various web sites. Recommendations are made on the basis of direct field observation which has taken a vital role to draw the conclusions. After collecting the data; the toposheet, Google earth map and block map (district) are rectified (Photoshop-CS). Then, the
Revista Eletrônica Geoaraguaia. Barra do Garças-MT. V 4, n.2, p 1 - 25. Julho/Dezembro. 2014. 5 image of the location map is registered (Photoshop-CS) respect to toposheet. The tables and Graphical presentations are done with the help of Excel software.
GEOGRAPHICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DISTRICT
Beside historical importance, the district ‘Murshidabad’ has occupied a distinctive position in the ‘Geographical Map’ of the State of West Bengal as because the soil, weather & climate of this district permits multiple cultivation (Husain, 2002). In fact, the river Bhagirathi has distinctly divided this district into two zones viz. ‘RARH’ and ‘BAGRI’ which are situated on the Western and Eastern sides of the river Bhagirathi respectively. The structure and texture of soil of two zones are also different. The soil of RARH is mostly clay and lateritic clay type, comparatively heavy, grayor reddish in colour. The land is high and slightly undulating having gentle slope from West to East. The soil of the area is generally low in carbon content and acidic to neutral in reaction (Dumanski, 1997). The main crops are paddy, potato but oil seed and vegetables are cultivated successfully in all the three seasons. On the other hand, the soil of BAGRI is mainly alluvial type with comparatively light texture, low in organic carbon content and soil reaction is slightly acidic to neutral (Donahue, 1990). The principal crops are Jute, Paddy, etc. The district is well-drained by a number of rivers and rivulets. The important rivers amongst them being the Ganges and its tributaries namely the Bhagirathi, the Jalangi and the Bhairab. The Ganges first touches the district at its extreme northern point and flows almost due South-East and then gets bifurcation into two major streams, viz. Bhagirathi & Padma (Panda, 2011) at Geriah near Nurpur. The Bhagirathi which branches off from the Ganges flows from North to South dividing the district into almost two equal parts. The Jalangi start its courses in the Jalangi Police Station area on the East of the district & Bhagirathi branches off from Padma in the Lalgola Police Station area (Biswas, 2001). The river Mayurakshi enters the district through Kandi Sub-division. It is worth mentioning that the Bhagirathi which had become non-navigable has been made navigable again with the construction of Farakka Barrage.
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Table 1: Population Statistics of Murshidabad District, West Bengal,2011
Total Area 5,324 Sq. KM
Population Statistics 2001 2011 Total Population 58,66,569 71,02,430
Male Population 30,05,000 36,29,595
Female Population 28,61,569 34,72,835 Decennial Growth Rate % 23.76 21.07 Population Density Per Sq. KM 1,102 1,334
Sex Ratio (No of Females per 952 957 1000 Males) Total 0-6 Population - 9,79,665 Male 0-6 Population - 4,99,040 Female 0-6 Population - 4,80,625
0-6 Population % Compared to 17.80 13.79 Total Population Source: Population Census, 2011, Murshidabad District, W.B.
Table2: Decennial Population Growth Rate in West Bengal District 1951- 1961- 1971- 1981- 1991- 61 71 81 91 01 Bankura 26.17 22.02 16.93 18.82 13.79 Burdwan 40.65 27.06 23.46 25.13 14.36 Birbhum 35.55 22.80 18.01 21.94 17.88 Darjeeling 35.90 25.16 31.02 26.91 23.54 Hawrah 26.51 18.58 22.74 25.71 14.60 Hooghly 39.02 28.72 23.86 22.43 15.72 Jalpaiguri 48.27 28.76 26.55 26.44 21.52 Cooch Bihar 52.54 38.67 25.28 22.55 14.15 Kolkata 8.48 7.57 4.96 33.13 4.11 Malda 30.33 31.98 26.00 29.78 24.77 Medinipur 29.26 26.89 22.39 23.57 15.68 Murshidabad 33.46 28.57 25.49 28.20 23.70 Nadia 49.81 29.91 33.29 29.95 19.51 Purulia 16.33 17.86 15.65 20.00 13.96 24 parganas 40.48 34.53 27.10 21.02 21.87 West Dinajpur 35.51 40.50 29.31 30.05 26.12 Source: Census of India Statistical Abstract, West Bengal, 1991
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Table 3: Literacy Statistics of Murshidabad District, West Bengal Literacy Statistics 20201 2011 Total Literacy Rate (excluding 54.35 67.53 0-6 population)
Male Literacy Rate (excluding 60.71 71.02 0-6 population) Female Literacy Rate 47.63 63.88 (excluding 0-6 population) Literacy Rate in Urban Areas 68.34 72.65 Male Literacy Rate in Urban 75.71 77.15 Areas Female Literacy Rate in Urban 60.75 68.02 Areas
Literacy Rate in Rural Areas 52.28 66.27 Male Literacy Rate in 58.53 69.52 Rural Areas Female Literacy Rate in 45.67 62.84 Rural Areas
Source: Census of India Statistical Abstract, West Bengal
Table 4: Socio Economic Conditions of Murshidabad District: At a Glance Statistical Parameter Information s
Child Marriage 79% of the girls in the district are married when they are still in their adolescent, in most cases below the age of 16 years
Female literacy rate 48.33%
Child labour 88000 persons
Child workers below the age of 14 in 80.15% beedi industry
Population affected by flood 65.86%
Household are below official poverty 61% line
Percentage of Non Workers below 92% poverty line
Source: Survey report of District Rural Development Authority 1997 and Census 2001
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The district consists high population pressure, low literacy rate (table-1&2), large no.of Child labour (88.000persons), low Female literacy rate (48.33%), higher rate of child marriage (79%), 61% households below poverty line and it seeks to explain the poor Socio-Economic condition of the district. The study related to Industrial development is essential for this district to recommend the industrial policies and to regain the economic conditions as it was during the Nawab rulers.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INDUSTRIES
Silk Industry The silk industry had been the principal non-agricultural industry in Murshidabad district for the last three centuries. It was such significant industry which attracted the East India Company to the district during the British rulers (upto, 1947), where its enterprise was stimulated by competition with the Dutch, French and Armenians. The center of the industry was Cossimbazar, where the Company started a factory in1658. At first the operations were on a small scale: according to Bernier, the Dutch employed 700 or 800 persons in their factory at Cossimbazar, and the English and other merchants as many more. It soon began to develop with European capital and organization. In 1670 a factor “well skilled in silk” was sent out from England to Cossimbazar, and in 1681, when the Chief was Job Charnock, the future founder of Calcutta (Kolkata), out of £ 230,000 sent out by the East India Company as “investment” to Bengal, £ 140,000 was assigned to Cossimbazar. From this time forward the Company made unremitting efforts to foster sericulture and extend the trade in silk, until by 1776 “Bengal silk drove all competitors except Italian and China silks, out of the English market” (Mally, 1914).
Plate 2: Silk Sari Plate 3: Silk Cloths Plate 4: Ivory Carving
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Plate 5: Solar Craft Plate 6: Khagrai Dinner Set
Ivory Carving Another industry for which the district was famous is ivory carving. Now it has no existence because of scarcity of ivory and flood affect. According to Mr, G.C Datta in his “Monograph on Ivory Carving in Bengal” (1901) stated that, for lack of encouragement the Murshidabad carvers have been obliged to sacrifice quality to quantity. Established during the declining days of the Nawabs of Murshidabad, the encouragement the art received from them was but limited and sporadic. “Within the last 30 years the industry has altogether died our from Mathra, Daulatbazar and Ranshagorgram, all three villages near the city of Murshidabad. Thirty years ago there were over 50 families of ivory carvers at Mathra, and even so recently as 12 years back there were about a dozen houses left. Many of them died of malaria fever, and the few survivors have migrated to Baluchar, Berhampore and other places. At present there is not a single Bhaskar in Mathra, and there are not more than 25 ivory carvers, principal and apprentices all told, living in the district” (Mally, 1914). The best workers, it may be added, live in Khagra, a quarter of Baharampore. The Murshidabad Art Agency has been started for the advertisement and exhibition of specimens of the art.
Indian Cork (Shola) Sholapith is a milky-white sponge-wood which is carved into delicate and beautiful objects of Art. Shola is a plant which grow wild in marshy water logged areas. The biological name of shoala is Aeschynomene Indica or Aeschynomene Aspera (Bean Family) and it is a herbaceous plant. The solapith is the cortex or core the inner plant and is 1 ½ inch in diameter (Ghaffar, 1990). The outer harder brown skin is removed by expert hands to reveal the inner Revista Eletrônica Geoaraguaia. Barra do Garças-MT. V 4, n.2, p 1 - 25. Julho/Dezembro. 2014. 10
soft milky-white and spongy material, almost similar to ‘thermocol’, artificially produced in the laboratory. However, sholapith is much superior to the ‘thermocol’ in terms of malleability, texture, luster and sponginess. Artisans use it for making artifacts used for decoration and ornate head-wear of bridal couple. Murshidabad the shola crafts are flowery designs, decorative head- wears of gods and goddesses, garlands, intricate figurines like faces of gods and goddesses, elephant-howdahs, peacock-boats, palanquins and so on are made of sholapith.
Bell-metal works Bell-metal and brass utensils are manufactured in large quantities at Khagra, Berhampore, Kandi, Baranagar and Jangipur. They are exported as well as sold in the local markets. Locks and betelnut cutters of a superior kind are made at Dhulian and iron chests at Jangipur. The problem of getting raw materials for the brass and bell-metal artisans of the district is, however, acute. While delay in getting raw materials owing to the complicated procedural formalities involved in the submission of applications for raw materials has been almost a constant factor, the industry has also been affected by the change in consumers demand in favor of stainless steel, plastic and ceramic goods and crockery.
Textile Industry O’ Malley has described the textile industry as “Cotton weaving survives as a village handicraft, bedsheets, gamchas, lungis, etc., being woven on hand looms. Blanket weaving is carried on by colonies of Gareris, or up-country sheep-rearers and blanket-weavers, in the Jangipur subdivision, the principal seat of the industry being Aurangabad. The blankets, which cost Rs.7 to Rs.8, are exported to Calcutta and elsewhere. They are also made in the Kandi subdivision, but for local sale only. Dyeing of cotton and silk is confined to a few families at Khagra, Baluchar and Mirzapur. There are skilled embroiderers in the town of Murshidabad, who embroider caps, slippers and clothes with gold and silver wire.”Now a day it becomes very riches in this district. Gamcha and Lungi of Beldanga (Different types of cloths) are very famous throughout the state. The other clothes which are mentioned in O’ Malley’s report are also remaining as before and its quality and quantity becomes larger. As stated in O’Mally’s report- “Gold and Silver work is carried on in Khagra, Baharampore, Pulinda and Kandi; malaria is said to have depleted the families of workmen. Bell metal and brass utensils are
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manufactured in considerable quantities at Khagra, Baharampore, Kandi and Jangipur; they exported as well as sold in the local markets. Locks and Betel-nut cutters of a superior kind are made at Dhulian and iron chests of Jangipur. Bidri-ware is produced by a few workman at Murshidabad; the process consists of inlaying silver in pewter, which is blackened with sulphet of copper. The Murshidabad Art Egency has endeavored to foster this latter industry by advertising and exhibiting specimens.” All these are continuing upto this recent period but in modified manner. Now these productions become maximum and modern techniques are going to be utilized according to increasing demand. Clay models and figures are made through out the district but famous in Kagra, Chuapur, Kandi, Jangipur and Saktipur. The famous clay models are transported to Kolkata and sometimes foreign countries. Late Jamini Roy was the famous pioneer architect of these models in the district. His deciples are now continuing the business (according to Trivanga Pal of Malihati village, a famous clay model architect).
Bidi Industry The main stay of Murshidabad’s economy now is rolling bidis (the small hand –rolled cigarette).The industry employs some 1.1 million people in the district, making it the biggest production hub of bidis in the country. Poverty forces women in Murshidabad’s Jangipur area which is parliamentary constituency of India’s ex-external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee (2008), to take up bidi rolling as a profession at a very young age, often at the cost of education. The Government–stipulated minimum wage for bidi workers is Rs41 for every 1,000 bidis rolled. But most workers complain that they earn Rs35 at the most because the balance is kept by the middlemen, who supply the raw materials and have a stranglehold on the trade. ‘For the amount of lab our that we put in, the government-stipulated wage is a pittance. What is more, we don’t even earn that much,’ says Najma Bibi, a 20 years-old bidi worker, who, on an average, earns around Rs2, 000 a month to support her family (Datta, 2009). Present Condition of the Industrial sector Murshidabad district is not enriched by large-scale-industries due to its flood prone condition, lack of unfertile rigid land, presence of soft alluvium soil (not suitable for establishment of heavy machines), distance from the port, and very weak transport set up. Only one agro–based large scale industry is established here i.e sugarcane industry. Sugarcane
Revista Eletrônica Geoaraguaia. Barra do Garças-MT. V 4, n.2, p 1 - 25. Julho/Dezembro. 2014. 12 cultivation in West Bengal is mainly found in the districts of Murshidabad, Nadia and Birbhum. The only sugarcane industry is at Beldanga in Murshidabad and also at Plassey (Nadia) which is adjacent to Mursidabad. Due to maximum sugarcane production in Murshidabad those two industries are closed to each other. The features of other small scale agro based industries are as follows (Table5).
Table5: Number of Small Scale Industrial Units Registered With the Directorate of Cottage and Small Scale Industries With Corresponding Employment in the Murshidabad District Upto The Year Unit Employment
(as on 31 March) (Number) (Persons)
1994 20648 90456
1995 21276 92916
1996 22939 99415
1997 24682 108668
1998 25870 115231
2001 16874 78042
2002 17892 82196
2003 18896 87217
2004 19768 92394
2005 20629 96982
2006 21459 101223
Source: Murshidabad District Statistical Handbook, Murshidabad, 2006
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Fig. 2: Scale industries with corresponding Employment in the Murshidabad District
Although no large and medium scale industry is running in the district, traditional industry in tiny & cottage sectors have goodwill from long back. In 1912, the Governor of Bengal, Mr. Carmicale, was attracted to the scarf made in this district and at last he visited the residence of artisan, Abdul, at Khagra near Berhampore to see the manufacturing process. Till now, the artisans are manufacturing the traditional silk products, but they are becoming hopeless on this traditional activity due to cut-throat competition from domestic and international market (Mally, 1914). But, other traditional activities like paddy husking, oil mill (ghani), wheat grinding, bidi, etc. are expanding gradually. Along with these traditional activities, some non- traditional activities like fabrication items, plastic products, brick etc. are also expanding. However, no of units set up in the district during last few years (Table 6) is shown below along with their capacity, investment in Plant & Machinery and employment.
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Table6: Industry at a Glance
The year wise trend of units registered in the district for last 23 years are given below on which it is seen that upto 2006 data are not available but after then there is a slow progress in registration of Industrial sector. In 2010-11 the no. of registration in the industrial sector increases in maximum rate (Table 7).
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Table 7: Year Wise Trend of Units Registered
A complete feature of the small scale industries and the Artisan Units can be traced out from the following tables (Table 8, 9) where it is seen that the amongst the small scale industries the paper and paper products are maximum in numbers. After the paper and paper products, following industries are leather based industries, chemical and mineral based industries are getting importance in the district.
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Table8: Details of Micro and Small Enterprises and Artisan Units In The District (2011)
It may be explained from the above table 5 it may be proved that the industrialization is changing its route towards modernization but it is also notable that the silk industry is till occupying its fifth position in numbers and the cocoon’s production is highly increasing upto 2006 (Table9).
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Table9: Production in Sericulture Industry in The District of Murshidabad Year Cocoons Production Thousand Value in Rupees (Mulberry in Metric Ton)
2001-02 1204680 97881
2002-03 1803886 146143
2003-04 1640994 143570
2004-05 2016945 151577
2005-06 1792969 172125
Source: Dy Director of Sericulture, Murshidabad District Statistical Handbook, Murshidabad, 2006
Amongst the large scale industries two units are taking vital role i.e. NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) at Farakka and Sagardighi Thermal Power Plant (Table 10). Beldanga Sugar mill is now becomes aboundant. Table10:Large Scale Industries/ Public Sector Undertakings
After 2008 there is a sudden change in industrial projects implemented in the district. The Govt. of India has taken some important projects to increase the economical benefits of the district. They had decided to invest Rs 7.97 croreand Rs. 9.15 crore to built up different rural and urban projects amongst which the cold storage(table 12), plastic, brass-metal, new thermal power plant etc. are important. Table 11:
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Table 12:
Plastic Products, Brass and Bell-metal
Bell-metal and brass utensils are manufactured in large quantities at Khagra, Baharampore, Kandi and Jangipur. They are exported as well as sold in the local markets. Locks and betelnut cutters of a superior kind are made in Dhulian and iron chests at Jangipur. The problem of getting raw materials for the brass and bell-metal artisans of the district is, however, acute. While delay in getting raw materials owing to the complicated procedural formalities involved in the submission of applications for raw materials has been almost a constant factor (Perveen, 2010), the industry has also been affected by the change in consumers demand in favor of stainless steel, plastic and ceramic goods and crockery. Table 13:
Source: Economic Review, 2011-12, West Bengal
It has been realized that (Table 13) the though the plastic products, clusters, brass and bell metal are getting the leading role in the district’s economic set up but it is not sufficient for the highly increased population of the district. Thus the district is suffering from various problems. Revista Eletrônica Geoaraguaia. Barra do Garças-MT. V 4, n.2, p 1 - 25. Julho/Dezembro. 2014. 19
Table 14:
Source: Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, 2011
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Table 15:
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PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS
PROBLEMS: Now a day the district is suffering in different problems due to the frequent flood damage, destruction of Nawab’s Kingdom, poor transport set up, negligence of the Govt., population pressure due to refugees etc. Having silk weaving machines, the very poor people, lost their interest after the destruction by flood, because they are unable to reconstruct it again. The seller cannot able to go to the market for sale. Due to stagnation of water, cocoons are destroyed. It has also some long-term effects. The cocoons, which appear at rainy season, are considered as the best quality. But these cocoons are infected with brownish patches and sometimes the chrysalides are dead inside. Flood influences rust-affect on machines, so these are destroyed or becomes very weak . According to the local people flood has also impact on declining ivory carving industry. ‘Khagra’ which was the center of this industry is inundated regularly by flood after 1970, which provides damage in the industrial sector and the carvers become less interested to make it. The Nawab rulers during their regime, helped to take protection from the flood and to rescue the carver (Chattopadhaya, 2012). They sometimes bought it in higher prices due to their fascination on this art. But now there are very few people who can provide the price of this art or who can help to survive the carver from flood impact. Inheritably they become less interested on this industry and gradually it finishes its way.
The textile industries are also hampered by flood when water enters into the industrial cottages or shops. It rots the cloths and bound to be discolored or puts pale brownish spots. Metal industry is an industry which is very much hampered by flood because it gets rust very quickly with minimum humidity. In case of gold and silver, it becomes discolored and detoriates the quality, if flood water touches its surface.
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Owing to very lesser protection in the Bangladesh border, the refugees are entering through the Padma River encroachment and taking the citizenship of India. It creates population pressure of the district and reduces per-capita income of the people. The district is suffering from very poor transport set up due to impact of severe flood damage in regular intervals. Thus the industrialists are lesser interested to establish any large-scale industry. The alluvium soil is not suitable for the establishment of heavy machineries also (Sharma, 1983). The Govt. of India as well as West Bengal does not taking any steps to control the entrance of the refugees or not taking any decision to establish any large scale industry with its proper transport setup.
PROSPECTS: Though the district is lagging behind but there should be some future prospects may be based on some recommendations- 1) The most important prospect is that the Planning Commission (1996), Government of India, jointly with the Indian construction industry has set up Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC) to take up activities for the development of the Indian construction industry. The Council, for the first time in the country, provides the impetus and the organizational infrastructure to raise quality levels across the industry. This helps to secure wider appreciation of the interests of construction business by the government, industry and peer groups in society. 2) Industrial estates have to be developed in the district. 3) The power supply position needs to be strengthened. 4) Although markets for agro-based items exist in the district, the industrial development and markets for industrial goods needs to be expanded further. So, if the Planning Commission will take any steps to establish any large-scale industry in this district then it will be enlightened in its industrial sector in future. 5) Now the Govt. of West Bengal is taking some sustainable remedies to control the flood also. 6) Finally the district can be developed if the historical background can be recognized and the past industries can be given importance to enhance its glory.
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CONCLUSION
We have to remember that once upon a time the Murshidabad was the capital of Bengal during the Nawab rulers and the pride of Bengal in the industrial sector. Acute knowledge of the industrial background of Murshidabad District may help the planning commission to determine the future progress of a really poor region to regain their glory by adoption of past industrial measures combining with modern technology which is mainly determined by the local geonomic aspects of the region.
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Recebido para publicação em 28/08/2014 Aceito para publicação em 25/10/2014
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